In the middle of a surgical procedure, the patient on the table goes into cardiac arrest and needs CPR. What is the first action of the perioperative nurse?
A)Turn on the alarm to notify others of the need for assistance.
B)Verify that the patient does not have a heart rate.
C)Administer oxygen by bag and mask ventilation.
D)Begin chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Before starting CPR, the nurse should turn on the alarm to notify others of the need for assistance. Even if there are other surgical personnel in the operating room, the alarms notify other nurses on the unit of the emergency. These staff can bring the crash cart and along with it, medications and the cardiac defibrillator to attempt to get the heart beating again and correct cardiac arrhythmias.

In the Middle of a Surgical Procedure, the Patient on the Table